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Writer's pictureAdell Ryan

Pt 2: High-Frequency Word Alternatives for Writers

High-Frequency Word Alternatives for Writers

Every writer has them... high-frequency or "crutch" words, if you will. If you're anything like me, they tend to change with each unique work. Words like "glance," and "smile," for example. With a little help from 34 Editing, the editor who made my Daughter of Perdition Series pretty, we decided to provide you all with several alternatives to some of the more frequent over-used words in fiction.



For handy bonus graphics that correlate with some of the ideas listed in this blog post series, skip to the High-Frequency Word Alternatives for Writers Pinterest Board!


Look/Glance

  • watch

  • study

  • gaze

  • scan

  • examine

  • observe

  • peer

  • view

  • read

  • eye

  • gape

  • regard

  • glimpse

  • behold

  • explore

  • peep

  • ogle

  • focus

  • rubberneck

  • scrutinize

  • pore over

  • note

  • notice

  • face

  • search

  • seek

  • take a peek

  • check out


Glare

  • Simmer

  • glower

  • stare

  • gawk

  • scowl

  • frown

  • grimace

  • lour

  • bore

  • menace

  • sulk

  • gloom

  • eyeball

  • side-eye

  • mad dog


Raise/Lift/Pick Up

  • boost

  • lift

  • promote

  • upheave

  • establish

  • increase

  • uplift

  • elevate

  • heighten

  • arouse

  • hoist

  • buoy up

  • draw up

  • buck up

  • hoist up


Jump/Leap

  • vault

  • dive

  • pounce

  • lunge

  • bounce

  • spring

  • skip

  • bound

  • cannonball

  • hop

  • plunge

  • barge

  • plummet

  • start

  • jolt


Speak/Talk/Say

  • voice

  • state

  • preach

  • mumble

  • whisper

  • declare

  • drawl

  • convey

  • communicate

  • stammer

  • stutter

  • deliver

  • mouth

  • chew

  • blab

  • gab

  • express

  • mouth

  • yammer

  • modulate

  • utter

  • shout

  • yell

  • assert

  • announce

  • lip


Rise

  • aris

  • soar

  • climb

  • surge

  • surmount

  • ascend

  • uprise

  • swell

  • go/move up


Smile

  • smirk

  • grin

  • beam

  • simper

  • dimple

  • cheese

  • quirk, twitch, curl, curve lips/mouth


Think

  • analyze

  • calculate

  • assess

  • evaluate

  • measure

  • track

  • audit

  • examine

  • consider

  • quantify

  • qualify

  • determine

  • understand

  • comprehend

  • surmise

  • reckon

  • conclude

  • visualize

  • assume

  • judge

  • realize

  • estimate

  • suppose

  • contemplate


Laugh

  • guffaw

  • giggle

  • chuckle

  • snicker

  • tinkle

  • howl

  • chortle

  • shriek

  • whoop

  • cachinnate

  • snort

  • titter

  • crack up

  • bust out

  • break up


Sigh

  • exhale

  • gasp

  • pant

  • groan

  • suspire

  • breathe

  • lament

  • respire

  • wheeze

  • blow

  • expel


Stand

  • tower

  • erect

  • jut

  • rise

  • protrude

  • straighten

  • extend


Change

  • modify

  • convert

  • switch

  • transform

  • integrate

  • convert

  • customize

  • refocus

  • simplify

  • merge

  • adjust

  • diversify

  • innovate

  • shift

  • transition


Walk

  • saunter

  • bipedal

  • traipse

  • hurry

  • stumble

  • creep

  • wander

  • amble

  • hike

  • waddle

  • stalk

  • limp

  • stamp

  • tiptoe

  • prance

  • swagger

  • wade

  • mosey

  • toddle

  • slog

  • ramble

  • trudge

  • hobble

  • clomp

  • march

  • trek

  • strut

  • stroll

  • meander

  • roam


Run

  • sprint

  • bolt

  • race

  • fly

  • speed

  • hurtle

  • rush

  • trot

  • lope

  • jog

  • streak

  • scamper

  • romp

  • dash

  • scurry

  • barrel

  • canter

  • spring

  • flit

  • bound

  • hurry

  • dart

  • hightail

  • streak

  • race

  • gallop

  • tear

  • scuttle

  • chase


Sit

  • slouch

  • posture

  • roost

  • squat

  • hunker

  • slump

  • plonk

  • rest

  • plop

  • settle

  • occupy

  • perch

  • grab a chair

  • take a load off

  • take/have a seat

Grab

  • clutch

  • grasp

  • take

  • snatch

  • pluck

  • grip

  • paw

  • snag

  • abduct

  • secure

  • capture

  • obtain

  • yank

  • seize

  • take

  • hook

  • fetch

  • clasp

  • pull

  • arrest

  • take hold

Lead

  • control

  • coordinate

  • execute

  • orchestrate

  • program

  • manage

  • head

  • operate

  • oversee

  • design

  • administer

  • devise

  • formulate

  • launch

  • institute

  • pioneer

  • spearhead

  • implement

  • found

  • initiate

There you have it -- several high-frequency word alternatives. Check out my High-Frequency Word Alternatives for Writers Pinterest Board to access the bonus graphics that correlate with some of the ideas listed in this blog post!



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